The bell rang out in the mostly empty store. A soft chime alerting of someone coming or going from the freshly opened shop. Behind a small counter sat an oversized man, the trinkets that filled the shop and lined the edges of the counter assisted in painting the scene with a touch more hilarity. The man looked up at the late coming customer over dirty glasses- his eyes, a warm shade of brown, lingered only a brief moment on the stranger before returning to the small item he was carving away at.
The door hung open just long enough for the awoken woman to slip inside. The event lasted just long enough to let whispers of snow whirl into the shop and dust the wooden floors- just long enough so that tendrils of frigid air could ever so briefly wrap around the shop keep pausing his movements- just long enough that the silence was not as easily shattered as the door latched shut sending out another warm jingle.
The pair looked at each other for a moment as the second chime faded into silence. The awoken moved across the room deftly- precisely- determined. Her hair was pulled back into a messy bun, strands of her purple-blue mane jut out, partially from the rush at which she had pulled it up and partially from the blizzard that was currently devouring the city. The bun, which gave the appearance it would soon fall apart, was shakily held together by a thin piece of flat metal.
A white cloak hugged her neck and draped itself to the floor, it was slightly to long however and dragged slightly behind her, the bottom stained with dirt and now damp from the snowy sidewalks. The cloak mostly concealed her personal fashion choices leave much to be guessed about her status.
In a few steps she was standing in front of the man.
“Welcome in friend” the woodcarver greeted his customer as he continued working. “It is a rather cold night to be visiting without a hat and scarf, perhaps you should visit the shop next door? The old lady and her daughter there would be happy to find you something more weather appropriate” he sat the small figurine he had been working on down to gesture to in the direction of the shop.
“I’ve come for a beverage you specialize in. I was out with a friend and the shop where we got a snack was serving it- Egg Nogg they called it.” she said dropping a bag of glimmer on the counter from within her cloak. “The said you were the only one in the city who was supplying it.”
The bag of glimmer reflected the light and the man looked at it trying to hide the shock from the small fortune the other had dropped on his table. After clearing his throat he shook his head, spikes of black hair falling over his forehead from the movement. “I’d like to help you but I don’t keep any on hand, it isn’t easy for me to store.”
“Then tell me a day and time to be here and I’ll pick it up” the awoken said leaning forward over the counter. “Please? It was so good!” She cupped her face and closed her eyes. “I really want to share it with-“ she cut herself off and returned to her more serious demeanor “I’m willing to pay more if that isn’t enough.”
“Sybll, what are you doing out here come in before you catch a chill” the shop owner said as he held the door open for the awoken who was standing on the street looking through the shop window at the display that had Been set up.
“Thanks Cole” the awoken replied as she was broken out of her trance. The night sky was clear but the temperature had dropped fast causing the edges of the shop’s windows to ice over. The beauty of it added the scene Cole had set up on display.
The door shut behind the pair and Cole moved to the back room as Sybll looked around the shop to take note of changes that had occurred over the year. Her fingers traced over some of the small wooden figures that were hanging up near the counter. “Are these new?” She called out as she picked one up to look closer at it.
The small wooden figure had been painted and like the others around it was unique in that a loop of twine had been attached to the head of it. The one Sybll had grabbed looked to be in a white lab coat. Others were carved and painted in various other professions Sybll knew of from her short trips down from the tower.
“This year, yes. I figured people might buy them as gifts to hang on their trees.” Cole said as he emerged with box. It clinked as he sat it down. “I made 4 gallons this year for you.” He said with a warm smile. “And Olivia wanted to give you something this year” he held up a small package that had been wrapped in paper and tied with yarn. “Hope it keeps you warm”
A small sit down area had been added Where Olivia and Sybll sat catching up on the year past. Olivia’s hands had been busy at work adding yet another patch to the hat she had made the strange woman years prior.
“I can make you a new one” Olivia said as she looked at the awoken through one of the new holes.
“I could never ask that of you, plus that hat has kept me warm for countless years. It even has the store logo from before you became Mr. & Mrs. Nichols” Sybll said sipping at her Egg Nogg.
“It really won’t be a bother I’m going to have a lot of time on my hands”. Olivia gave a warm smile and touched her abdomen winking at Sybll.
A pang of grief washed over the Awoken but it was short lived. Clanking and popping of wood on wood filled the shop breaking the peaceful exchange.
“Mother f-“ Cole started but silenced himself looking at the broken jars of Egg Nogg that now painted the floor.
“Looks like I will be back for a visit sooner than normal” Sybll laughed out as she moved to help clean the mess.
“Kid number three? Seems to bold of an adventure for me” Sybll said as she played peek-ah-boo with the current youngest of the Nichols family over their now empty dinner plates. “But congratulations!” She quickly tried to recover. “How old are you now Hayles?” She asked the oldest child of the two shop keepers.
“I’m this many” the young Nichols said holding up three fingers.
“Cole, Olivia, Haylee, Micah… I can’t wait to hear about the adventures of your new family member.” Sybll raised her glass smiling as she looked over the family.
“Steph, where’s your dad I thought your winter break was starting next week” Sybll said as she hugged the youngest of the three Nichols children.
Steph hugged the family stranger back, a bit tighter this year compared to the last. “Dad.. Dad is at home” the answer was unusually soft compared to what Sybll had come to know. “I took my finals early to be home with everyone.”
“I see, perhaps it would be best if you let your mom know I need my hat patched up. Maybe I can do a house call.
Sybll sat in the back of the church as the priest spoke.
“Olivia was crafty with her hands…” he said.
Sybll gripped the hat tightly, it had been the first of many Olivia had come to make her but for Sybll it had also become more. The first gift she had received after becoming a guardian, a symbol of what she was protecting, a grounding wire to why she couldn’t let the darkness swallow her and the city.
“Christmas was always Grandma’s favorite time of year so it was fitting for her to give us this last one.” Said one of Hayle’s eldest sons. He was now in his 20s by Syblls math.
“When dad died last year I thought I had stopped breathing and I would never start again, but mom said something that helped me take a breath.” Micah had started his story, one Sybll didn’t care to relive at the moment.
She stood quietly and exited the church unnoticed. In a few brief thoughts she was outside the shop where this journey had begun.
“Analysis complete for Olivia Nichols” Veles said materializing. Normally Sybll would have cared but all she felt was numb. “Cause of death: Natural, old age. Age at time of death: 87 years old.”
The shop no longer sold carvings of wood, nor hand made winter items. It was instead filled with books of all sorts. Sybll sat in a corner her foot tapping gently against the box where her Egg Nogg was stored as she read.
“Sybll, I hate to ask, can you watch Cole?” The woman asked. Sybll looked up at a descendent of the original shop owner. At some point Sybll had lost full count of how many generations had come and gone. Despite that each year, no matter which family member was owning or running the shop they always had a batch of Egg Nogg ready for their family’s immortal visitor.
“I think Kami is a better fit.” She kicked the shin of the warlock she had brought with her who was buried in a book. “But it isn’t a problem Mei, I’ll be here until you or Cassidy get back”
